Tuesday marked President Barack Obama’s third visit to the Capital Region, but many locals on the tarmac said Tuesday’s visit was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.While you can't quite beat getting a hand shake from the President of the United States, catching a glimpse of his private jet flying over Route 7 in Colonie, might be just as exhilarating.
“It’s amazing, it is quite an awesome feeling,” said Cohoes resident Tom Surprenant.
“I was excited, I am speechless, I have no words for that,” said Albany resident John Sohldon when he saw Air Force One roar overhead.
Sohldon and his friend Steve Hotaling haven't missed one opportunity to see Air Force One touch down in their hometown.
“I have seen it three times and it amazes me every time,” Hotaling said.
“You know that is the most important plane in the United States coming to Albany and that's pretty exciting,” Sohldon said.
Suprenant agreed, saying, “The President of the free Wowld has landed in my backyard, so to speak, it’s pretty awesome.”
Also pretty awesome are this plane's statistics. It has 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels.
It also has two galleys that can feed up to 100 people at a time, a full medical suite that can function as an operating room, and a doctor permanently on board.
Sohldon said it’s safe to say when you see something like that overhead, “you know the president has arrived.”
Less than three hours later, the Commander in Chief boarded his jet and left everyone in the Capital Region with another memory to last a lifetime.
“Pass it on to your kids, take videos and pictures, and just cherish the moment,” Sohldon said, smiling.
